Should I select the Pickup Box Delete option?

[KWinterborne]

So I have a 3500 CTD DRW on order. The truck will serve three purposes: Daily driver; towing 3,000 pound boat; carrying 4,500 pound camper (while towing the boat sometimes).

I am considering ordering the option to delete the bed and going with a flat bed. Been told the bed weighs 450 pounds. So far, I’ve only talked to Protech for the aluminum flat bed option. I was thinking one of the pros would be I would get a higher payload. Turns out the Protech setup weighs about 370 pounds and they quoted me a price of $3,600. So not much weight savings and very pricey. That price does not include freight or installation.

I like the idea of a flatbed and not having to worry about dinging the fenders/bed and would like a higher payload capacity. What other options are there?

Ken

 

[RustyJC]

How much do you save ($$$$) with the bed delete option? If the market value of a perfect dually bed is greater than the savings, I'd buy the truck with the bed, pull it off myself and sell it if you want a flatbed. IIRC, there's no real difference with the 3rd gen trucks like there was with the 2nd gen cab/chassis option.



Rusty

 

[KWinterborne]

How much do you save ($$$$) with the bed delete option? If the market value of a perfect dually bed is greater than the savings, I'd buy the truck with the bed, pull it off myself and sell it if you want a flatbed. IIRC, there's no real difference with the 3rd gen trucks like there was with the 2nd gen cab/chassis option.

Rusty

I hadn't thought of that. So just called. It's only a $350 credit. I would think I could sell it for a lot more then that. But then I'd have to deal with trying to sell it. Hmmmm.

 

[SRadke]

I'd buy the bed and sell it after you get it. You'll come out ahead.



-Scott

 

[JLovas]

I've thought about this too. Talk to some flatbed dealers and ask them if pickup beds are worth money. Around here, they aern't worth anything. I'd say deleate the box on your order.



I've got a hard time believing that the bed weighs 450 lbs... I would guess 250 lbs. I've been tempted to buy a Bradford built flat bed. The bed I looked at (steel) weighed between 800-900 lbs. , so don't plan on gaining payload capacity with a flatbed. I was quoted a price of $1900 for a flatbed for my pickup (SRW, LWB). Here's the link:



http://www.bradfordbuilt.com/



Sure would make access to my tools easier!!! Let us know what you decide.

 

[RM]

this is the same decesion im dealing with right now. the two trucks ive spec out are almost identical except the bed delete and the price deference is 203 dollars. and you cant order the trailer tow group. with box delete theres a million bed you can buy on the internet. just type in a search for flat beds, western haulers and the best custom hauler. and suprizingly if you go google images and type in the same things ya get a lot different ones. i would love to hear from some one who has gone through this and tell me how it wire up with a bed off and pictures of how they mounted the bed thanks

 

[JimDay]

I bought an Alum-line bed for a F 450 in 1990. I'm going to put it on my 05 3500 4X4 soon. It's weight is 450 pound with cross members every foot and headack rack. I wouldn't put a factory bed that old on a new truck. But a factory bed wouldn't last that long. It was neat to see three men pick up the bed by hand and put it on the truck. You may not gain in payload but you will have less wind drag. Check out Alum-Line beds

 

[Cummins Cowboy]

I have never understood that advantage to flat beds, haul a tool box, a gas can, or pretty much anything you have to tie it down, doesn't sound like much fun to me

 

[Mhannink]

well around here the beds are worth alot like 2k for a new one thats mint if u want the flat bed i would order the truck w/ the bed and sell it off later

 

[Forrest Nearing]

definately get the bed and sell it... even if you only sell it for the amount they'll credit you, you'll be helping out a fellow TDR member!

 

[MRosinski]

What color did you order?

 

[JimDay]

I have never understood that advantage to flat beds, haul a tool box, a gas can, or pretty much anything you have to tie it down, doesn't sound like much fun to me

There are advantages and disadvantages to both. The first time I pulled our horse trailer with the 3500 4X4 it hit the tail gate going through a dip. I would have thought six inches clearance over the tail gate would have been enough. I have two other trailers that you couldn't pull with reguler bed. One is a 40 foot mini float that has 8 inches of clearance over the flat bed. As far as thing sliding off I have 12 inch side boards that can be taken off.

 

[EStoller]

There may be some issues licensing the truck with out a bed and inspection after you finish building the truck. It might be easier to buy it with the bed then sell the bed.

 

[Garry Verheyden]

What a rip off!! It's funny, when you want to buy a new bed complete with tailgate and fenders, the dealer wants to charge you $,5000+. When you want a credit, only $350.

I wish you were in the Wa. Or. area. I'd pay you $600 for it. I want to do a theme room for my son with a reg. cab and pref. short box in his bedroom with the firewall touching the wall. The sleeping area would be the bed of course. Queensize matress fits perfect inside. Oh well, so far this is still just a dream.

Garry

 

[Hercules130]

i think i read that an extended warranty doesn't always apply to a cab and chassis. check out www.eservicecontracts.com

 

[DPelletier]

I also think you should just order a bed and take it off later. $350. 00 is cheap and I doubt very much you'd be able to buy a box, fenders and tailgate for anywhere near that price.

As far as advantages of flat decks?

- no worry of body damage from the cab back

- additional under bed storage is possible

- very useful for hauling large items

- can use nifty sealed LED taillights like the big trucks

- no bed interference when hauling a 5er.



If I get a 5th wheel next, the beds coming off before you can say "abracadabra"!



Dave